Focusing device.



J. KIRBY. JR.

FOCUSING D-EVlCE. APPucATloN FILED Ausdzwygla.

Lgz. Patented Feb.25,1919.

TOEN KERRY, JR., OFQAYTN, OHIO, ASSIGNGR TO UNITED STATES HELDLGHT OMPAN F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIN OF NEW YORK.

accus-rnc envien.

Application filed August 12, w18. Serial No. @3,38%

To cZZ 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN KIRBY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Focusing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates primarily to electric headlights and has for its purpose to provide mechanism for adjusting the filament. of an incandescent lamp to the focal point of a parabolic reiieotor, a further purposel being to combine such mechanism with means for supporting the rear of the reflector upon a suitable base within the headlight case. Other objects and the advantages of my invention will be made clear in the speciicatimi.

Iii; iiadlights of the type to which my in- 2c ventionis applicable it is essential that the center of illumination be located with accuracy 'in respect of the focal point of the reflector, and in order to obtain such accuracy, and to provide compensating means for variations in lamps and irregularities in the making and assembling of the various parts which constitute the interior of such headlights, I have devised a simple, eiicient and novel structure, which is inexpensiye to vso manufacture and easily manipulated. To

these ends my invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more'ully set forth and pointed out inthe claims at the end of this specification. The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a portion of the reflector, and the assemeo bled device; Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1, one half being shown in section, the reflector and its supporting stand being omitted; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the frame which carries the lamp socket holder and other movable parts constituting the focusing mechanism, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section bclow the line A A in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a top view of the hand wheel.

Like reference numerals indicate corre- 5'0 spending parts throughout the. drawings.

1 represents a portion of the reflector, the

front end of which may be mounted on any suitable slide or base, as 2, in the usual manner, not shown. A ring 3 is secured to the @o rear of the reflector, the apex of which is out awa-y at a leaving an opening corresponding to the inner diameter of the said ring 8. `Art the bottom of and preferably integral with the 'said ring there is a laterally disposed extension or bracket 5 having a depending member 6, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. At the outer or free end of the bracket 5 there is mounted thereon an open frame 7, which may be of any suitable .form and which may be atirached to the bracket by screw threads, as

shown, or in any other manner which may be deemed expedientor desirable, or it may be formed integral with the bracket. As an embodiment of what now deem to be the form of frame best adapted to the carrying out of my invention I have adopted the circular or ring shaped pattern shown in the drawings, and which, in cross section, resembles the letter l", this form being selected because of its contributing greater strength in proportion to weight. At the bottom ot' the frame 7 there is a boss 8, the lower end of which is reduced and screw threaded at 9, to engage a corresponding screw thread in the bracket 5, this boss extends, at 10, slightly into the opening 11, of the frame at the top of which, in vertical line with the lower boss 8, there is a boss 12 having a bore 18 provided with an interiorly screw threaded portion 14 extending from its upper end to substantially midway of its length. tio receive an eXteriorly screw threaded pluL 15 having a. hand wheel 16 by which the plug may be operated to exert, or relieve 90 pressure on a vertically movable block 17 located in the lower or threadless portion of the said bore and the function of which will presently appear.

The upper end of the boss 8 and the lower miv end of the block 17 are cupped to correspond to the contour of and provide bearings for two substantially semi-spherical or semiglobe-like elements or members 18 and 19 mounted therebetween and channeled toreceive and slidably support a lamp socket holder 20, having a bore 21, through which electric wires, not shown, pass to a lamp socket 22 carried by the holder 20 and sup\ porting a lamp 23 through the opening 4: of the reflector.

When the parts are assembled, the elements 18 and 19 together with cup shaped ends of the boss 8 and the block 17 operate as a ball and socket joint, permitting, withinf 11o certain limits, when pressure on the block is relieved, spherical movement of the said elements carrying with them the socket holder, socket and lamp, while these latter mentioned parts can be moved forward or backward independently of such spherical movement, thus allowing the illuminator to be properly focused, which, when accomplished, can be securely held in such position by turning the hand wheel 16 and screwing the plug 15 tight against the movable block 17 a coiled spring 24 being interposed between the hand wheel and the end of the boss 12 to prevent undue movement of the'screw plug 15 which might otherwise occur through vibration or other causes incident to a moving vehicle. The boss 8 is provided with a central recess or chamber 25, within which there is located a coiled spring 26 having one end bearing against the bottom of said chamber and its opposite end bearing against the underside of the element 19, the purpose of this spring being to exert pressure on the said element, which pressure is transmitted to the other movable parts to steady the same and prevent their moving too freely when the screw pressure is relieved on the block 17.

The rear portion of the reector, together with the foregoing described focusing mechanism is supported by a standard 27, se-

lcu'red to the base 2 and having at its upper or free end a smooth bore for receiving the threaded member' provided with clamping nuts 2,8, 29, as shown, which permit of the reiiector being mounted in proper relation to the base, lthrough vertical ad]ustment, and securely held in such position.

Having described, in detail, the construe; tion and operation of my invention as elnbodying the best manner of carrying out the same do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to such specific details, which may be departed from in various ways without departing from the scope thereof.

What I .claim and desire tov secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a Idevice of the character described, an open frame, a support for said frame, a ixed lower cupped bearing, an upper cupped bearing slidably movable in theframe, two substantially semi-spherical elements; one of said elements being mounted in the said lower fixed bearing 'and the other co erating with the u per movable bearing an both being channe ed to receive a socket holder, a socket holder slidabl operative in said channels, and means or tightening and mentes;

loosening the movable parts in the said bearings and said channels. Y'

2. In a device of the character described, an open frame, a support for said frame, a fixed lower cupped bearing, an upper cupped bearing slidably movable in the frame, two substantially semi-spherical elements; one of said elements being mounted in the` said fixed lower cupped bearing, an upper cupped bearing movable in the frame, two substantially semi-spherical elements; one of -said elements being mounted in the said lower ixed bearing and the other coperating with the upper movable bearing and both being channeled to receive a socket holder, a socket holder slidably voperative in said channels, means for tightening and loosening the movable parts in the said bearing and the said channels, and 'a spring arranged to exert yielding pressure against one of the said elements thereby to impart a steady movement to the said -movable parts.

4.. lln a device of the character described,

an open frame, a support for said frame, a

fixed lower cupped bearing, an upper Icupped bearing movable in the frame, two substantially semi-spherical elements; one of said elements being mounted in the said lower ixed bearing and the other ,coperating with the upper movable bearing and both being channeled to receive a socket holder, a socket holder slidably operative in said channels, means for tightening and loosening the movable parts in the said bearing and the said channels, a chamber formed in said frame, and a spring located in said chamber arranged to exert yielding pressure against one of the said elements therebyto impart a steady movement to the said movable parts.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature,

inthe presence of two witnesses, this 6th.

day of August, 1918.' y

JOHN KIRBY, JR.

Witnesses Normen Jonas, H. D. Hnunmcrs. 

